FORT WAYNE- Some of the most interesting places are not in plain sight. It took two years for me to discover Hyde Bros, a unique bookstore on the corner of Wells street and 4th.
This store was opened in 1992 and has over 150,000 books. They buy, sell, and trade every type of book from novels, mystery, comics, classics, educational, and many more. Visitors can get lost in the two-story maze of stories and knowledge.
The wooden rolling ladders, shelves, and front door give this place a still demeanor. There is no place so comfortable to search for your next addicting read. The uniqueness and vintage aesthetics are pleasing to customers, even so much that some have gotten their wedding and senor pictures done inside.
But the real hidden gems are on the pages, the endless amount of information that can transform people’s lives for the better.
“I think what we bring to the table is knowledge and something that this community in particular really needs,” said Caitlyn.
There is a caring staff who takes great pride in what they do. I interviewed two employees, Caitlyn and Tasha Bushnell, to learn a bit more about what makes Hyde Bros so unique. They told me the story of how Hyde Bros came into existence.
“It started when Sam and his brother decided to open a store. They started doing research and collecting books” Caitlyn said.
Sam and Joel Hyde were the original owners and creators of Hyde Bros. Sam worked inside the shop, sitting at the from desk answering every question hurled his way with his earned wisdom.
The two brothers had different interests in books, which resulted in Hyde Bros large variety and inventory of books. Sam Hyde unfortunately passed away last July, but his and his brothers legacy live on thanks to dedicated workers and community interest in the shop.
“It was their differing views that made this store so fantastic,” said Tasha. “Sam loved the luring art covers of the 50’s and 60’s. Joel liked the more academic things. Because of that, together it made the store what it is today, which is big beautiful and awesome.”
This shop is more than a one stop shop; the vibes, friendliness, opportunity for knowledge, and cats keep the Wells street community coming back.
“I keep getting told people come here for generations, they come here and then they bring their kids here and their kids bring their kids here just to share books which is really neat,” said Caitlyn. The cats are a bonus, but it’s really the great energy of, not a lost age, but a hidden one.”
The readers come from all over. Fort Wayne has kept this shop alive for almost 30 years now and the location has a lot to do with their success, which was intentional from the beginning, Caitlyn said.
“It’s a weird allusion of the Wells street corridor. This is a historical district. We are so close to downtown, without being in the actual city. Sam knew this zip code was going to be big, and we have seen that he was right. There’s a lot of different cultures coming together here, there is an El Salvadoran population one way, and Mexican restaurants the other direction, it’s a walkable area with a lot of different cultural experiences on one street.”
Thanks to the diverse population in Fort Wayne, there are many different types of books that come in and out of the Hyde Bros door. There is every genre and novel you could think of. When buying and trading books with the locals and travelers, they keep some interests in mind, Tasha said.
“We do have a fondness for the odd and the obscure, that is what we especially look for when accepting books from the community. A title that sticks out to me right now is ‘My Eight years of Cocaine Hell’.”
This shop is made for those old souls, the ones who want to take their time finding their next great read. The workers and cats are welcoming, and they do not pass judgments. If there is one thing that can bring people together, it is a good book.
Christina's Creations 